Damascus, SANA- The Damascene wood mosaic is one of the oldest, most distinguished traditional handicrafts in Damascus, giving its houses a unique beauty and earning considerable popularity among Syrians and tourists alike.
The ancient tradition of wood inlay has been developed by Syrian artisans across many centuries, reaching its current state at the hands of Damascene craftsman Issa Mohammed.
Issa has introduced a personal touch into the craft to produce pieces of impeccable precision and beautiful design of various types of colored wood inlaid with mother of pearl, bone and ivory to further enrich it.
The family business isn’t limited to small trinkets and gift items; there are mosaic chairs, cabinets, bookshelves, and entire furniture sets.
Issa is one of the artisans keeping this traditional craft alive today, “Each completed piece is overwhelming joy as if it is the first produced one”, Issa expressed his passion for this handicraft to SANA reporter.
The Craft of inlaying mother of pearl was started by the Syrian artisan George Al-Bitar in Damascus.
Today the skills of handicraft are passed from generation to generation ,with many workshops in the Old City of Damascus still producing the finest mother of pearl inlays.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)